Detachable motor-truck crawler



J. J. WEIEH. DETACHABLE MOTOR TRUCK CRAWLER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-25,1918.

Patented July 5, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l min/r 3% J. J. WEIER.

DETACHABLE MOTOR TRUCK CRAWLER.

APPLlCATlON FILED NOV.25, I918.

Patented July 5, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 J. J. WEIER. DETACHABLE MOTOR TRUCK CRAWLER. APPLICATION FILED NOV-25. 1918.

1,383,356, Patented July 5, 1921.

. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

6&4 yaw v \x Gym/@7225)? i/Z m 2;; 426 M J. J. WEIER. DETACHABLE MOTOR TRUCK CRAWLER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.25, I918. 1,383,356. Patented July 5,1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 41 I a V II/I/1 I 6% 14M 39 JM Kayak.

UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB 3. WEEK, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR or ONE-THIRD To FRANK J. nnrrmnnn AND ONE-THIRD TO WILLIAM A. KLATTE, 1505311 or CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

DETACHABLE MOTOR-TRUCK CRAWLER.

Specification of Letters'fatent. 'Pajgent d- J l 5 1921 Application filed November 25, 1918. Serial No. 264,043. 3

' upon trucks and devices of that character as hereafter pointed out. .4

It has for its object the construction of a self. laying traction track mechanism which may be readily adapted and applied to a I truck as desired, and when the nature of the roads is such that it is not required, may be rendered inoperative and the truck employed in the usual manner. To this end it consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereln shown and departicularly pointed out Fig. 3 is a view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

:Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a fragment of the caterpillar track;

Fig. 5 is a topplan view of the rear end of a truck equipped with my improvement;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a rear art of the truck substantially as shown 1n g. 1,

.but enlarged to more clearly show the con-.

struction; v

Fi 7 is a partial sectional view taken on line %-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

- Fi 9 1s a section taken on line 9-9 of Fig l;

ig. 10 is a cross sectional view taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 5 and Fig. 1-1 is a view taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

In the drawings, 1 is a truck of well known construction provided with suitable chassis, of which the side sills 2 form a part. 3 and 4 are the ordinary wheels of such a truck, which need not be further described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 6 and 7, 1t Wlll'be seen that a plate 5 is firmly secured "to the sill 2 on each side of the truck, and carries a frame 6 which is pivotally secured thereto as at 7. A standard 8 of suitable material is provided with a guiding portion 9 firmly secured thereto which extends through the frame 6, preferably between rollers 10, permitting a free vertical or endwlse movement of the standard 8. The lower part of the standard 8 is provided with a stub shaft 11, upon which is mounted a wheel. 12 the same in each case being arrangedin alinement with therear wheel 4 of the truck. Arranged above. the standard 8 is provided suitable spring or resilient means 13 carried on the'chassis, resilientlyholding the wheel 12 down in contact with the-roadway, but permitting the latter to rise to accommodate ltself to any unevenness of the road. Some such provision is necessary 'in view of the fact that when the wheel 12is in operative use there are three points bearing upon the road.

A linked belt track 14 is constructed to inclose the two wheels 4 and 12, in a manner" that when the wheel 4 is driven, it will serve to lay dpwn the track between 'the two -wheels, with which track the rear wheel engages. Any preferred type of track that will accomplish the "purpose may be employed for this purpose. In the preferred form, which I have illustrated and which is clearly shown in the drawings, the several sections are pivotally connected together in any preferred manner, the connecting ends bemg preferably hooked as shown at 15-16,

in which the hook on the link 17 engages the stud 16 on the approximate link 18. This detachably connects the two so that the chainv may be readily removed or mounted, as desired. At suitable intervals about the chain, I prefer to provide extensions 19 or equivalent means, the same being so positioned as to be engaged by cooperating pins 20 or equivalent parts on the wheel 4. This insures a ositive engagement of the-wheel with the chain, and the reliable operation of the device. With such construction or equivalent means, the wheel 4 cannot slip in the-chain ortrack. In the'preferred form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, I prefer that the links of the track or chain'shall be dish.

i and 12 as to maintain the chain in operative position, that is, substantially tight, so that the chain may not accidentally disengage therefrom. In the preferred form illus-' trated, I accomplish this by extending a shaft 24 across the chassis and connecting the shaft 11 of the wheel 12 to said shaft 24 by means of a chain 25. The end of the shaft 24 may be squared or otherwise formed to receive a suitable handle, as at 26, and a rachet 27 and a codperating pawl 28 may be provided to hold the shaft in the desired position, as it is rotated. I

A similar shaft 29 '(Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 7 is carried by the chassis, provided with a squared end 30 for the reception of a handle, and a rachet 31 and cooperating pawl 32 therefor. A chain 33 is connected-to the shaft 29 with the free end connected to the spring 13 at 34, as clearly. shown in Fig. 7. By rotating this shaft the spring may be raised to release-the end of the standard 8, so that if otherwise freed from the chain 14, the standard 8 may be rotated or pivoted on the pivot 7, raising the wheel 12 substane 'tially to the positionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, at which point it may be secured to and carried on the chassis until such time as it becomes necessary to again employ it in putting the self laying traction track in operatlve position. eferring'to Figs. '5, 10

and 11, a third shaft 35 may be carried by the chassis if desired, provided with a squared end 36, a rachet 37 and pawl 38.

This shaft may be divided at its end, which preferably extends outwardly from the chassis, means for engaging the chain 14 permitting the latter to be wrapped thereon and carrying the chain or track thereon when it is not in usefor traction purposes. The means for engagin the chain or track with the shaft may be 0 any preferred type. As shown in the drawings, I prefer to construct this portion of the device with collars 39 firmly secured to the shaft 35, said collars .bein provided with extensions 40 through which a rod 41 loosely passes. As shown, the end of the rod 41 is provided with a laterally extending shoulder 42, which when the rod is passed through the enlarged openings 43, engages with the outer wall of the inner sleeve, that is, the one nearestthe chassis. The hooks 15 (Fig. 2) readily with.

engage the rod 41, when by rotating the .shaft 35 the track chain 14 will be wrapped around the shaft'and secured thereto, pro viding a convenient means for carrying the transverse end 42 in alinement with the holes 43, when the rod may be readily withdrawn,

and with the end of the chain placed on the ground in the rear of the wheel 4, the wheel may be readily backed into it together with the wheel 12. v The chain 25 is released so that the wheel 12 may be swung back ward, permitting 'thehook 15 to engage the stud 16 on both sides of the chain. When this is done the chain 25 is again tightened to a suitable point, and the chain 33 released,

allowing'the spring 13 to operatively engage the top of the standard 8.;

The entire device is simple in construction and very eflective in operation. The parts may be very readily and easily assembled in operative position, or as readily disengaged,

so that the truck may be used in. the ordinary manner. In practice I have found the device particularly, effective in sandy o'r. muddy ground, or in any place where the rear wheel is likely to slip in the ordinary use.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications maybe made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentloned.

What .I claim-as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-' v

1. In a device of the kind described, a vehicle provided with drivin wheels, in combination with auxiliary w eels carried by the vehicle in alinement with the driving 11 wheels, said auxiliary wheels each bein mounted upon a vertically movable standar pivotally connected to its cofiperating parts, said pivotal axes being parallel to the journal axes of said auxiliary wheels, and means for swingingthe auxiliary wheels on their pivoted support upward. out of engagement with the road bed, or permitting them to do not wish to be understood as 1 extend vertically downward to contact there- -2. An auxiliar wheel for vehiclescomrislng'a late a apted tobe secured to the rame of t e vehicle, a supporting and guiding frame pivotally secured to said plate,

and guided in the frame, anti-friction guiding means in said guiding frame and bearin on said standard, said standard provide with a transverse shaft, and a wheel rotatably mounte Oli the shaft;

'in combination with a standard sustained 3. In a device of the kind described, a vehicle provided with driving wheels on each side, plates secured to the body of the vehicle, and a supporting and guiding frame pivotally secured to each ofthe plates, in combination with a standard supported and guided in each of said plates, adjustable resilient means arranged to press said standards downward, transverse shafts carried by the standards, rotatable wheels carried on the shafts, and a tractor chain carried by and connecting each driving wheel with an auxiliary wheel.

4. In a device of the kind described, a vehicle provided with driving wheels, in combination with auxiliary wheels carried by the vehicle in alinement with the driving wheels, said auxiliary wheels each being mounted upon a vertically movable standard pivotally connected to its coiiperating parts, a traction chain mounted upon and, connecting the wheels on each side, means for pivotally swinging the auxiliary wheels transversely of their journal axes upwardl out of engagement with the road bed, an means for increasing. the distance between the two cooperating wheels to tighten the traction chain.

5. In a device of the kind described, a vehicle provided with a vehicle wheels on each side, plates secured to the body of the vehicle, and a supporting and guidin frame pivotally secured to each of the p ates, in combination with a standard supported and guided in each of said plates, resilient means arranged to press said standards downward, shafts carried by the standards, rotatable wheels carried on, said shafts, a tractor chain carried by and connecting each driving wheel and auxiliary wheel, and means for varying the distance between each driving and auxiliar wheel.

11 testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAOOB J. WEIER.

Witnesses:

H. MORRIS, JACOB KoLLs. 

